Well-being – mental health
In both my personal and professional life, I have a deep interest in well-being and mental health. I strive to de-stigmatize seeking help from a psychologist and create a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing their mental health. At the faculty of social sciences and in my research group, I organize activities, participate in on-boarding and was elected well-being ambassador. I believe in the importance of finding one’s work-life balance and strive to promote a caring environment for others to achieve their full potential while maintaining a healthy social and personal life. Because academia can be a demanding and competitive environment, I find it especially important to strike a balance between professional success and personal well-being.
initiatives
Podcast Episode “Mental Health Matters”
In this podcast episode about mental health for young scholars, I delve into how to cope with perfectionism and the fear of failure (2022)
Podcast Episode “Dealing with Insecurities in Academia”
In this episode, I discuss mental health, well-being and dealing with insecurities in academia for the ICA Young Scholars podcast series (2022)
Writing group
I co-organize a weekly writing group at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Writing is a big part of the PhD, but it can be a lonely process. Writing together helps us find motivation, write regularly, get feedback and meet new colleagues.
What are Well-being ambassadors?
At the Faculty of Social Sciences of KU Leuven, a well-being ambassador is a familiar employee (PhD, professor, non-academic staff) who is trusted and has a low threshold for contact. They have a good understanding of the organization and work proactively to promote and improve well-being, taking an outside perspective on situations to provide a different perspective. They encourage others to take control of their situations and empower them to find potential solutions. When needed, they refer individuals to other resources or actors and help them take the next steps. In the long-term, well-being ambassadors also help to develop policies that promote well-being within the organization.
Characteristics
Have a genuine interest in well-being, being a good listener, and being discrete and trustworthy. Be present, accessible, and visible to the community. Do not judge and acknowledge that all emotions and feelings are valid. Give a good example, empower individuals to take control of their situations. Have knowledge of other roles within the organization and make referrals when necessary.
Responsibilities
Promote well-being and integrate new employees within the research groups, take the time to listen to concerns, collect tips and tricks on well-being and share relevant information to support individuals in achieving a balanced lifestyle, reach out proactively and organize small events and activities to encourage connections, foster an environment of taking care of one another, promote a feedback culture in a supportive environment.
*This information comes from brainstorming sessions about the role of well-being ambassadors within the faculty (2023).